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Griff's Canadian Adventure

A journey across the second largest country on the planet: Canada A journey across the second largest country on the planet: Canada A journey across the second largest country on the planet: Canada

Griff Rhys Jones
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harrycoogan
Sep 27, 2022
April 21, 2022 (Canada)
Principal Broadcasting Channel
Griffs äventyr i Kanada
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Runtime 1 hour

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Griff’s Canadian Adventure — release date, destinations, trailer, interview, episode guide and everything we know

In Griff’s Canadian Adventure, comedian Griff Rhys Jones travels around the second biggest country on the planet....

In Griff's Canadian Adventure on Channel 4 there'll be polar bears, beavers and chilly weather.

For Griff’s Canadian Adventure , the veteran Welsh comedian Griff Rhys Jones goes on an epic journey for Channel 4 across the vast commonwealth country of differing landscapes and cultures. As he explores Canada over six episodes, and takes in its cultures and traditions, he also tries to de-mystify and debunk Canadian cliches, plus he looks on in awe at its beautiful wilderness, enjoying some encounters with beavers and polar bears.

As well as packing his snowshoes, Griff will be heading across Canada by seaplane, train, cargo boat, dogsled and monster truck in search of the "true soul" of the country. In each episode, Griff sets himself a challenge that forms the spine of his journey. Typically, the challenges are quirky and reflect the spirit of the region of Canada he is visiting.

So here's everything you need to know about Griff’s Canadian Adventure on Channel 4 including an episode guide and interview with Griff himself...

Griff's Canadian Adventure will take him everywhere across the vast country.

Griff’s Canadian Adventure release date

Griff’s Canadian Adventure is a six-part series coming to Channel 4 on Saturday August 13 at 9pm. All episodes will also become available on All 4.

Is there a trailer for Griff’s Canadian Adventure?

Yes there's a trailer for Griff’s Canadian Adventure . You'll even see him speak French at the start of it! Do take a look at what Griff gets up to in the trailer below...

Griff’s Canadian Adventure — destinations and episode guide

Here's our guide to the six episodes in

EPISODE 1 NEWFOUNDLAND — BIGNESS British comedian and travel enthusiast Griff Rhys Jones begins his journey across Canada, exploring Newfoundland and Labrador in the East and uncovering what makes Canada distinctly unique and decidedly "big".

EPISODE 2: QUEBEC — FRENCHNESS It's off to Quebec to uncover just how "French" Canada really is. From Montreal to Quebec City, Griff will reveal how its history has helped shaped the multicultural Canada of today. He'll be speaking French too!

EPISODE 3: ONTARIO — NICENESS He begins his exploration of Ontario at Niagara Falls, which is on the US border, to uncover what it is that makes Canadians such a nice bunch of people.

EPISODE 4: MANITOBA - COLDNESS Things get chilly and decidedly dangerous for Griff as he explores the frozen wilds of Manitoba, North Canada, and visits a town that sometimes has more polar bears than people.

EPISODE 5: SASAKATCHEWON/ALBERTA — RICHNESS / EMPTINESS The prairies and vast sprawling plains of both Saskatchewan and Alberta provinces are visited by Griff, who discovers they reveal riches from fossils to farmland.

EPISODE 6: BRITISH COLUMBIA — HAPPINESS Griff finishes his journey across Canada in the popular, lifestyle province of British Columbia in the Pacific Northwest and discovers what it is about this place that makes people so happy. He takes a lovely flight around Vancouver.

Griff takes a sea plane in Vancouver in the final episode.

Interview: Griff Rhys Jones on what happens to him Griff's Canadian Adventure

Griff, episode one starts with you floating in the freezing Atlantic. How did they persuade you to do that? "I always say we should have something arresting to start the series, like me jumping out of a boat for the Australian one, so it is genuinely my own fault! My intention was that I'd be in the middle of a storm and rescued by helicopter, but unfortunately the budget wouldn’t run to that. And I had to wear a dry suit, because otherwise I’d have been dead in 30 seconds!"

What other scary activities do you try out? "In British Columbia, they took me abseiling, which I’ve done before. But the mountaineer hadn’t told me that, to get to the place we were abseiling down from, there was a traverse across a sheer cliff! When I was in New Zealand three years ago, they persuaded me to do a bungee jump off the Kawarau suspension bridge, and I have never been so scared in my life. I thought: ‘is this actually what I should be doing at the age of 65?!"

How did you enjoy trying out as an ice hockey keeper? "That was terrifying! The players were sent one by one to whizz down the rink and bang a puck in my general direction at about 150mph! As the goalie, it’s just your body between this rubber bullet and the goal! And you're wearing this sort of suit of armour that’s really uncomfortable. I don't know how they do it!"

Do you think twice about any of these hair-raising stunts? "Once the camera is running, you feel: ‘I ought to do this’, but there are times when you think : ‘Why am I doing this?’ And I tend to vocalise that!"

Where did you go to look for polar bears? "We went to this little outpost called Churchill where, every year, polar bears go through the town as they move from the tundra to the ice in search of food. We arrived on Halloween, when the kids were trick or treating, and the fire service, police and local volunteers had formed a cordon, armed with guns, to look out for polar bears!"

How close did you get to the polar bears? "We were in a tundra buggy with an armed guard, and we encountered a mum and a teenager, who came to investigate us."

How dangerous are the polar bears? "A fireman told me he’d been six inches from a polar bear when he was out jogging. And we were served by a girl in a cafe who said: ‘I came round a dark corner on the way home from work, and I was attacked by a polar bear and nearly scalped.’"

What are the facts and the fiction about Canadians? "I thought the fact that they don’t want to be mistaken for Americans was a myth, but it’s true. And there’s this myth that Canadians are the nicest people in the world, and in fact they were unbelievably sweet, pleasant and charming."

What surprised you about Canada? "There are more Ukrainian dance teams in the midwest of Canada than in Ukraine! Also they are very proud of their chocolate, but it actually turns out to be Cadbury's. And when you say ‘this is British’ they're not impressed!"

Didn't you encounter a lot of Canadians during your gap year? "Yes! I ran the disco on a cruise ship that had 600 Canadian schoolgirls on board! I don’t know if you’ve ever seen that reality show Below Deck, but like the crew on that, we were not supposed to fraternise with the passengers!"

No holiday romance then? "I did fall in love, and I started writing letters to about 20 Canadian girlfriends! I did think, while making this series: ‘what if I met up again with these elderly matrons who were my former girlfriends?’ That would make interesting TV!"

Did you bring back any souvenirs? "One thing I did buy, because I thought I looked so good in it, was a white Calgary hat. It's gone straight in that cupboard which is full of things that you like enormously when you try them on, and then you never wear again! And I brought my four-year-old grand-daughter back an ice hockey shirt."

Where does your love of travel come from? "When I was a kid we didn’t go abroad – we went to West Mersea in Essex for our holidays. And then when I was working for the BBC for 20-odd years I didn’t get abroad much. It all started when I went to Sudan for Comic Relief.

Is this your dream job? "People say: ‘What is it with all these celebrities taking holidays on TV?!’ But I have to say it's actually quite hard work, as you’re often starting filming at five in the morning, and finishing at midnight! So yes, it is a dream job, but also a tough one."

It's little a bit fishy in this bit of Canada!

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I'm a huge fan of television so I really have found the perfect job, as I've been writing about TV shows, films and interviewing major television, film and sports stars for over 25 years. I'm currently TV Content Director on What's On TV, TV Times, TV and Satellite Week magazines plus Whattowatch.com. I previously worked on Woman and Woman's Own in the 1990s. Outside of work I swim every morning, support Charlton Athletic football club and get nostalgic about TV shows Cagney & Lacey, I Claudius, Dallas and Tenko. I'm totally on top of everything good coming up too.

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The Best TV Shows Set in Canada

The world of television has expanded immensely over the past few decades, with captivating stories and engaging content produced from various corners of the globe. Among these international offerings, some of the best TV shows set in Canada have emerged with dynamic storytelling, unforgettable characters, and remarkable visual landscapes. These Canadian television shows not only entertain while providing a unique cultural experience but also showcase the country's diverse charm.

Delving into the vast selection of TV shows set in Canada reveals groundbreaking narratives that ingeniously utilize their Canadian settings to elicit powerful emotions and distinctive atmospheres. These TV shows take advantage of the scenic landscapes, cities, and small-town locales to build fascinating worlds where compelling stories and absorbing characters come to life. Through this unique blend of filming locations, themes, and exceptional storytelling, Canadian TV shows continue to make a lasting impact on audiences worldwide.

Among the plethora of remarkable Canadian television shows, a few stand out as groundbreaking examples. The series Trailer Park Boys has garnered an immense following with its satirical depiction of life in a trailer park community, becoming a cultural phenomenon. The critically acclaimed Orphan Black showcases versatile acting performances and intricate storytelling, reflecting the complex world of genetic cloning and human identity. Additionally, Kim's Convenience takes audiences into the heart of a Toronto neighborhood through the lens of a Korean-Canadian family, offering light-hearted, insightful humor and authentic cultural experiences. These shows represent just a few examples of the captivating TV shows set in Canada that have captivated audiences.

Canadian television shows, with their enchanting blend of powerful narratives and breathtaking locales, continue to inspire and captivate viewers for years to come. As the entertainment industry continues to evolve and expand, these exceptional series filmed in the Great White North serve as testaments to the creative potential unleashed by merging captivating tales with the sheer beauty and diversity found within Canada's borders.

Orphan Black

Watch This Show If You Love : Fringe, Dollhouse, Sense8, Continuum, Dark Matter Why Should I Stream? For those seeking a mind-bending tale rooted in science fiction with exceptional acting, look no further than Orphan Black . Following a young woman who discovers she is one of several clones, this series boasts an extraordinary performance by lead actress Tatiana Maslany and has garnered both critical acclaim and cult status for its exploration of identity, morality, and the limits of science.

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Trailer Park Boys

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Murdoch Mysteries

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Degrassi: The Next Generation

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Premiered : October 14, 2001
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Letterkenny

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The Handmaid's Tale

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Frankie Drake Mysteries

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Rookie Blue

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Especially going to southern Ethiopia and visiting some of the tribes – some of that is shown in one of our Ethiopian episodes. That is the tight rope to walk as a traveler. At what point do you intervene or say something? Whether in the moment or in the media [we hope] to draw attention to it and hope it sparks conversation and ultimately leads to change. It is tough.

We attempt to be the fly on the wall and to just see what is happening without the ultimate documentary approach and don’t adjust or influence the subject in any way. When you are a human and you see that happening to another human, it is tough.

“Conversation is a seed for education.”

Education changes a lot and I would love to see more education come to that area. I don’t think it is something we can intervene or make a change, while we are there as a tourist. Our hope is by showing it off, it will spark conversation, which sparks something interesting to say “I don’t agree with what I’m seeing at all.” Look into it. Do you visit there yourself? Do you look into what can be done? The conversation is the seed for education.

In a place like southern Ethiopia and a lot of other places in the world, it can be abusive to women and abuse of power. It might be all sorts of nasty things going on, the hope is to give a voice to the voiceless, by showcasing that to the world, allowing it to be seen. The next step is, do you take the charge to go there and make a documentary specifically about that and pick up the torch and go further? It’s tough and for me, it is a question I haven’t figured out an answer to.

The Antarctica “Departures” episode seemed like it wasn’t exactly planned but you ended up in Antarctica.

Yes. It truly was as haphazard as it came across on TV. We truthfully did not plan and had no idea we were going to Antarctica. We were supposed to go to Chile and we were supposed to come home. It was right before Christmas of that year. We were supposed to be back a week or two before Christmas. When that fell in our laps, we couldn’t turn it down. It was a miraculous opportunity.

We all had to say we were willing to forego Christmas for this. It was the best Christmas gift we could have given each other, to go to Antarctica. It is a TV show and there has to be planning and permits in place. This one fell in our lap and had to go with it. We felt very lucky, like a huge privilege to go.

Where would you tell people to travel for a good Canadian adventure?

We took a lot of heat from people in Newfoundland and Labrador. The ironic part is Newfoundland is one of my favorite parts of the whole country. It is so raw and rugged and yet the people are phenomenal. I know there is this preconception that Canadians are so polite and all that jazz. I think that comes from Newfoundlanders because they are incredibly open and amazing people.

It got a lot of attention around 9/11. American planes were re-directed and with a huge amount of the transatlantic traffic – the first place to make landfall is in Newfoundland.

Hundreds of planes were forced to land in Newfoundland and although it is this rock out in the middle of the Atlantic, the people are warm and wonderful. They were quite open to people in a terrible situations at that point. It kind of got some press that way. Newfoundland is a real gem for Canada and of course the West. Both coasts are amazing parts of Canada.

Editor’s Note: A few years ago my United airlines plane had an engine blow out over the Atlantic on my way to Italy. We had to emergency land at this same small airport in Newfoundland in the middle of the night that Scott mentions above.

We were welcomed in with amazing hospitality. The people at the airport opened the store so we could shop and even sent word to people in the town who showed up with lunch bags of meals for us as we waited 10 hours for a replacement plane. They brought mats and pillows for people to sleep on the floor and helped anyone who needed a hand.

At the end of our trip they told us how beautiful Newfoundland was and that we should come back when we could see more than the airport.

When traveling for “Departures” you guys were doing things off the beaten path. Why was it important for you to sho w those places rather than going to known restaurants and places ?

For us, we wanted to showcase things people didn’t know and weren’t aware of. A place like Paris, even if you haven’t been, has a pretty good pre-conception of what it looks like. It has been showcased in a million movies and written about in a million romance novels. People can picture what is there.

When you mention Madagascar or Sudan or Libya or Mongolia, most people don’t have a pre-conception of what that place is like or what to do there or see there. That was the basis of the locations we wanted to go visit. If we looked at a map and said “What the heck is there?” Then we knew that was a good starting place for a place to go.

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DESTINATIONS

An Interview with Scott Wilson from Departures TV series

Lisa Jackson HOME May 20, 2014

Scott Wilson – Canadian travel show host, pilot, scuba diver, and adventurer (Photo credit: Jeff Wilson)

Talking to Scott Wilson from Departures TV series about his adventures filming the acclaimed travel show with co-host Justin Lukach and videographer Andre Dupuis.

Is riding a reindeer across Siberia on your travel bucket list? How about visiting the last man living in the radioactive zone in Chernobyl? Or uncovering sunken ships and wreckage of World War II planes in the Pacific Ocean?

Canadian TV host and adventurer Scott Wilson has done all these things and more on the Departures TV series – an internationally acclaimed travel show that captures the journey as much as the destination.

A lot of us talk about quitting our jobs to travel full-time, but Scott actually did it. Before the age of 30, he left behind his life in Brantford, Ontario to shoot the TV series with co-host and high school buddy, Justin Lukach, and co-creator/cameraman, Andre Dupuis. Over three seasons, the trio filmed their adventures across 7 continents and produced a Gemini award-winning television show.

The Departures team in Jordan, Chernobyl, & Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (Courtesy of Scott Wilson & Halogen TV)

Like many other fans, I followed Scott, Justin, and Andre as they travelled to places that I had never considered visiting – like Greenland, Libya, or Ethiopia – but now marvelled at through my television screen. Through Dupuis’ camera lens, each episode showcased some gorgeous cinematography that portrays life as it happens – raw, real, and beautiful. The Departures team even filmed episodes in the less-visited Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and Antarctica.

I sat down with Scott to talk about his new TV series Descending , his latest adventures, getting his pilot’s license, and his advice on why travellers should embrace discomfort on the road.

The Departures team shooting in Thailand & Antarctica (Courtesy of Scott Wilson & Justin Lukach)

An Interview with Scott Wilson from Departures TV Series

Eat Drink Travel Magazine (Lisa Jackson): You’ve just finished airing the first season of your new show, Descending . Why is it so important to show viewers the underwater world?

Scott Wilson: TV shows that follow individuals underwater tend to be people like Dr. Robert Ballard and other top oceanographers, or record-setting divers. We felt like there was a huge gap for those of us who will never get there. We wanted to show that if you want to do this, you can . It was the same approach with Departures – we’re normal, everyday guys, and if we can do it, then anyone else who wants to do it, can do it as well.

On the set of Descending (Photo credit: Christian Loader)

Lisa: What’s been your most memorable diving experience so far? If you can choose, that is.

Scott: I really gravitate towards the cold water dives. So diving in British Columbia, we did a show there. Diving in Iceland , that really stuck with me. Even diving here at home in the Great Lakes. You really don’t have to go far away to the opposite end of the earth to have absolutely mind-blowing world class diving. We’ve got it right here in our own backyard. There’s something about cold water diving – getting the gear on, getting a dry suit on, feeling like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man – and getting in the water and then being rewarded for braving the cold. I’ve always gravitated towards those.

A close second to me was the dive in the Solomon Islands, retracing the steps of the Second World War. I’m a history buff and I’ve always been interested in aviation. So diving on plane wrecks of the Second World War, I was just beside myself.

Lisa: Anyone who watches the Departures TV series knows that you’re a plane enthusiast. You recently got your pilot’s license, so congratulations on that.

Scott: Thank you. That’s one of my bucket list items checked off for sure. Since I was about twelve or thirteen years old, I’ve really wanted to get my pilot’s license. I was in Air Cadets as a young guy and that passion for aviation continued on. I spent many hours playing Flight Simulator on my computer, so to finally make that dream happen was huge for sure.

(Photo credit: Christina Dabrowski)

Lisa: What motivated you to finally learn to fly and how was that experience for you?

Scott: While filming in a remote part of Indonesia, I was on an Ultra Light that crashed into the ocean. Swimming out of that plane wreck and floating around on the water’s surface waiting to be rescued, I was thinking, “As soon as I go home, I’m getting my pilot’s license. That’s the last straw – from here on in, I’m going to be the one in control of the plane.” So that was the last catalyst to drive me to finally get it done.

Scott Wilson after surviving a plane crash (Photo credit: Ellis Emmett)

The process itself was phenomenal from the get go – learning all the fundamentals in Ground School, and then starting to actually get up in the plane. Your first solo flight is always so monumental. It was really neat to be challenged like that again. It was something different, something new to challenge me at home for a change, as opposed to the challenges out on the roads.

Lisa: What’s one of the most unique dishes or drinks that you’ve had on your travels?

Scott: When you say drink, what definitely comes to mind was being in Mongolia. We were crossing a lot of wide-open space in the North, driving in a Soviet-era van that overheated and needed constant attention. Every so often, we’d pull over at a creek to get water to fill the rad, and occasionally, pull up to a ger (a Native-style tent).

The driver would knock on the door – sometimes in the middle of the night – to ask for some water for the rad. Someone would wake up and hand over some water to get us on our way again. It just amazed me that that’s how the culture was there. They depend on each other, so it didn’t matter if you’re a complete stranger – if you need help, you got it.

Well, one time, we stopped over at a ger and they welcomed us right in. The family’s daughter had just been married, and they were still on day two of a several day celebration. One of the gers was highly decorated inside, and there was fermented yak’s milk – which is a traditional alcohol. It’s in this pail and it looks like milky water. So they take this large glass that probably hasn’t been washed once since the day it was made, scoop some alcohol off the top, and fill the glass. And this was a full-sized, large juice glass.

We don’t want to disappoint anyone, so we take a little sip. It tastes like something you’d find under the sink. It was jet fuel basically. We’d take a little sip and then choke it down and pass it onto the next person. But our hosts are like, “No, no, no!” They’re making the hand gesture like – drink up, bottoms up! I’m like – you’ve got to be kidding me, you want me to drink this whole thing that’s gotta be like 60% alcohol?!

But you don’t want to disappoint, so we all chugged it down. Of course, as soon as you chug it, they refill it right to the brim again to be a good host. So we were just getting smashed before our eyes. I think it was half tradition, and half just let’s just see how drunk we can make the foreigners. Justin figured out if he hid the glass, then they couldn’t find it to refill it. He found little ways around it without insulting anyone. That would certainly be one of the more interesting drinks that I’ve had.

A stop on the “highway” in Mongolia (Photo credit: Scott Wilson)

Lisa: We’ve all visited a place where we bond with people and surroundings, and feel a strong connection to a country or culture. Do some places feel inexplicably like home? What’s that place for you and why?

Scott: One place that’s always felt like home for me is New Zealand. I think culturally, it’s very similar [to Canada]. They’re a Commonwealth country and based on the same government stature. But well beyond that, it’s just the attitude of the people and their kindness. Even the smells – you leave Canada in the winter and you arrive in New Zealand in the summer. After being that jetlagged, I’ll get picked up from my buddy Ellis and be driving back to his place, passing in and out of sleep against the car window and feeling that summer wind. It’s almost like I’m dreaming that I’m home – it’s the same sounds and smells of a late August afternoon, with crickets and the smell of fresh cut grass and farms. So there’s always been a real connection for me with New Zealand.

When you’ve been to a place a number of times, it starts to feel like home. Poland always feels like home to me as well, because I have family there. There are plenty of other countries that have found a special place in my heart, but I wouldn’t necessarily say they feel like home the way that those other countries do.

Trinidad, Cuba (Photo credit: Scott Wilson)

Lisa: In season 3, the Departures team visited countries that have been negatively portrayed in the media – such as Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Can you talk about these trips and why it was important to share these experiences with viewers?

Scott: Even from day one, we wanted to show places that weren’t necessarily on the beaten path. Places that were not so often thought about, and in some cases, ones with negative portrayals in the media. We wanted to give an honest and true portrayal of what we saw, what we experienced.

There have been some negative comments about our portrayal of North Korea. It wasn’t that we were trying to say this is what it’s like and there aren’t bad things that go on here . But I think everyone is aware of the bad things that do go on in North Korea and it was a matter of trying to humanize part of the population that is there. We’re so easily drawn in to all the negatives and those few bad apples that make the news and make a country fall under the so-called “axis of evil.” But in fact, the truth of the matter is that 99% of the people there are decent, good people and they want the same damn things as us. They want to put food on the table for their family and to leave a legacy. They want to see their kids live on in their name. It was always important for us to show that.

Traffic lights in Pyongyang, DPRK (Photo credit: Scott Wilson)

Sometimes, we intentionally went on the beaten path and then went back off it again. None of us had ever been to Cuba. But most red-blooded Canadians have been at one point in their life for a vacation and done the whole resort thing on the beach. We wanted to go to Cuba with the fresh eyes and potentially show it to people who’d been there many times before, but in a completely different light.

Luckily, we had wonderful trips. Libya and North Korea are some of my favourite episodes. We made connections with individuals instead of being responsible to portray an entire country. We’ll leave the news reporting up to CBC, CNN, and BBC. That wasn’t our mandate. We wanted show our experience during the two or three weeks we visited those places.

Tourareg man in the Sahara Desert, Libya (Photo credit: Scott Wilson)

Lisa: I remember when Departures visited Cambodia, you participated in a ceremonial slaughter of a cow and subsequent feast with community members. Being a traveller means having to adapt to different cultures and customs. Were there times when you witnessed something and felt uneasy or uncomfortable? Did you learn anything from these experiences? Do you think it’s important to expose ourselves to these situations?

Scott: I think it’s an important part of the travel experience as a whole. Over the past four or five years of constant travel, I’ve taught myself that if I’m a little bit scared or uneasy, then I’m probably on the right track for getting a good experience. If things feel a bit too comfortable, then I don’t think I’m really experiencing all there is to experience. That’s not to say that I endorse people trying to get themselves into trouble. But I think there’s something about being uneasy when you travel – it means that you are legitimately starting to experience things that are different from your culture. That’s how we get a better grasp of who we are as a planet, as opposed to just individual countries.

The Cambodia moment was one where we were all very uncomfortable with what was going on there. We even debated whether it should go in the show – are we going to offend or upset too many people by doing that? Then we thought, we’re here and that’s what happened, so there’s no sense in leaving it out.

The “Cambodian posse” of the Departures’ team (Photo credit: Scott Wilson)

In the episodes about India, we filmed the cremation vats on the Ganges. In the show, I had said that it would be really easy to highlight how wrong this practice is under our eyes and under our cultural upbringing. But it’s even easier to just sit back and observe it as a fly on the wall and say, “This isn’t my place, this isn’t my home.” This is their home and this is the way that things have been done for hundreds if not thousands of years. So who am I to say that it’s wrong? It’s different, but it’s certainly not wrong. There are moments where you’re shocked by something, but then you realize you’re really learning something – and it’s tolerance and understanding. That’s a good thing for anyone to have.

Conversely to all of that, the last gasp of the Tamil Tiger attacks happened on our last day in Sri Lanka . The Tamil Tiger rebel group actually had two or three planes in their possession that hadn’t been taken over or destroyed. They actually made a raid to shoot up the capital. We were outside on a patio at night, eating dinner in Colombo. At first, we thought it was thunder happening, but then we saw the sky light up with fire and we were like, “Holy shit, we’re in the middle of an attack here!”

We intentionally didn’t film that and left it out of the episode because we felt it was going to ruin an otherwise great trip and would give the wrong impression. We had just spent nearly a month there, and had met the most wonderful people, had the most incredible experiences, and felt unbelievably safe the entire time we were there. So we made the choice to leave out the attacks because we thought everything we had seen and shown would be undone with the first seconds of that video footage. It wasn’t fair to the country, it wasn’t fair to the people. That was the last of the attacks, and it would give an unfair view.

Lisa: When something like that happens, it often gets blown up as representing the whole country.

Scott: Exactly. It was going to be on every TV station around the world anyway. Why do we need to reiterate that story? It wasn’t like we were introducing anything new. From a TV show’s perspective, you have to make hard decisions about what the network and viewers want to see versus a bit of self-integrity and how true do you want to be to yourself, to your experience, and to the people that you’ve met. That won for us at that point. But certainly, those are the things you come across when you’re travelling, and you’ve gotta roll with the punches.

In Mongolia (Photo credit: Scott Wilson)

Lisa: Having travelled to so many places, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned about our planet and people?

Scott: One of the most important things that I’ve learned so far and as I continue to travel, is that people are inherently good. Yes, we worship different idols, we believe different things, we do different jobs and do things in different ways. But everyone I’ve run into, they’re just interested in who you are, where you’re from, and what are you doing in my country? And oftentimes, in some of the places where you would least expect to be welcomed.

I remember walking around in Sudan and – shamefully, after years of travelling to places that fall under the “axis of evil” – still being a bit uneasy. What are people going to be like? Are they going to accept me or approach me? I’m walking around in Sudan, having people come up with smiles on their faces, saying “Hello! Hello!” They’re using whatever English that they know and trying to ask, Where are you from? They’re delighted that I’m actually there and showing an interest in their country.

We’ve had people stop and help us change tires. We’ve had people give us beds to sleep on and give us food. Many times, this is coming from people who, from a financial perspective, are far worse off than any of us are. That’s really humbling. So it gives me a really good picture of humanity. Obviously, you can turn on the news any day of the week and be horrified by what you see, and the bad things that we can do to one another. But the good news is that, from my experience thus far, there are just so many more good people than bad. It’s still a wonderful world out there.

Lisa: What advice do you have for readers who are contemplating a round-the-world trip, but aren’t sure where to start?

Scott: Make sure that you start somewhere slightly outside the comfort zone. You’ve got to be happy going where you’re going, but there’s something to be said about going outside your comfort zone to really take home an experience.

Even with my parents, I pushed them to finally leave the continent and go to Europe. As retirees without much international travel experience, I advised them not to just sit on a cruise ship or take the package tour. At least half of your trip, make sure you do it on your own. I told my parents, you’re able-bodied, you can walk, you can put a backpack on your back. Don’t be afraid of getting a bit lost, or being uncomfortable, or having to ask for help. My mum had asked me, “What do you do if no one speaks the language?” I was like, “You get by. You figure out a way.”

If you make things too easy for yourself, I think you’re potentially giving up so much more of the journey than before you even begin. So make sure that you’re not cheating yourself and that you’re taking a step outside of your comfort zone.

Scott in the Northwest Territories (Photo credit: Scott Wilson)

About Lisa Jackson

Lisa Jackson is a freelance journalist and the editor of Eat Drink Travel Magazine. She contributes to The Globe & Mail, The Toronto Star, CAA Magazine, Travel Life, The Food Network Canada, Eater, Huffington Post Canada, Islands Magazine, and many others. Lisa is a proud member of the Yukon's Sour Toe Cocktail Club , which she joined by letting a dead toe touch her face.

June 18, 2013 at 9:23 am

very interesting interview greetings from Poland:) I”m watching Departures on Travel channel, great show,and I can wait to see next adventures:)

July 9, 2013 at 9:26 am

His comments on stepping outside the comfort zone strikes a chord with me. Coming from Singapore and how everyone here is obsessed in traveling to yet another city to shop till they drop baffles me. I’ve just came back from spending 3 weeks in Kyrgyzstan, no we barely signed up for any tour or packages, we did the traveling all on our own. Prior to leaving, everyone was mortified to learn we are heading to an unknown country – that we will get mugged, raped, blown up and all that horror. But hey, we came back safe and it was a different perspective altogether on contrary to what we were warned. Everyone there was so humble, kind and respectful. It’s a pity that the media blow everything out of proportion, I would love to visit Colombia, Chile and of course Libya too someday – just as a dart attack to those who would likely think these places are dangerous.

July 9, 2013 at 11:16 am

That is awesome! I can’t wait to be able to push myself and friends to do just that some day. Going to a country that is so out of your everyday reach to understand personally, one that is only shown in mainstream media with their huge bias, and discovering it for yourself with little help from large touring companies. Just meeting locals, finding cool things to see and do from them, and making it through a trip with just you and a few friends is one of the only things I feel really gets me pumped up. So glad there are so many other people who feel just as strongly about it as I do.

September 11, 2013 at 7:59 am

Wow amazing. Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach inspire me so much. I love the departures tv show and at one time I had to miss an interview so I could watch the show(The episode was about my country Zambia) I hope to meet them in person 🙂 and thank you so much for making departures. I love Decending too.

February 16, 2015 at 4:09 am

When i had cable in my household in the past, i remember channel surfing. I first viewed a show the halogen network was airing at the time; “extreme dreams” immediately i was bingeing on this network. Then, Departures followed after. I first thought of justin and scott as a couple of guys you’d find passing you by inbetween classes at my university. Then i saw what they were doing and i thought yeah…this is one of the “one of a kind” shows frickin awesome right off. I have always been interested in adventure and was positively charged by their endeavors. As far as the alchohol goes you aint getting to destroy my kidneys for a good time lol

February 20, 2015 at 3:41 am

Nice article, It was inspiring.

March 9, 2015 at 12:10 am

I stumbled upon departures as a newbie to Netflex. Words cannot tell how very much I have and still enjoying your shows. I’m an older lady and am physically incapable of doing what you young fellas are. I was fortunate enough to live on the island of Okinawa for four years, and was fortunate to travel some. Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. You are so right we are all the same. Different cultures fascinate me. Adopted 2baby girls from Korea. I have started slowing down on my binge watching, cause I don’t want this to end so rapidly. Watching this is certainly the next best to doing this myself. But the “mama” in me says you young guys need to be careful. You are living a life that most of us can only dream of. Thank you for “taking” me along, Gods blessings on all of you. Sherry Gladman

March 19, 2015 at 2:17 am

I’ve just discovered Departures and I absolutely love it. My own travels are off the beaten track. Most recently I went to Honduras. With a little care we found it safe, incredibly friendly and gloriously unspoiled. On one day we asked a local fisherman if he would take us out on his boat or maybe show us a hike through the jungle. He did both. We checked out an island bird sanctuary before hiking an ancient access road to a lighthouse. We came across wild horses and practiced our horse whispering while our hosts (who speak no English) cut some fresh coconuts for the water. I have never had more fun in my life and I’m a 54 year old grandmother.

You guys are the best. I’m thrilled to have discovered other travelers with priorities like my own. I have always pushed myself to experience new things but I might push a little further. I already SCUBA, sail, ski, and skydive. I have always wanted to learn to fly and now I need a Zorb. Thank you.

June 3, 2015 at 1:03 pm

I have watched Departures many times over and over. A truly wonderful travel show. I have been fortunate enough to travel to many of these areas and I feel that this show gives viewers a glimpse into what travel over a lengthy period of time is like. My wife and I backpack (independent travel) in which we may have a room booked for our first night on arrival in a foreign country but after that we just go where the wind takes us. We stay in guest homes, B&B, Hotels or whatever is available where we travel. We are not Justin and Scotts age. I am 62 and my wife is 61. Would I travel differently such as a Cruise line or on a scheduled touring. Likely not. We like the spontaneous adventure that this show depicts. It is also our way of experiencing destinations. The title of the show is one of the things I like about independent traveling… Departures. The unknown adventure ahead when you are at the Departure Gate.!! The feeling of excitement of what lies ahead. Les & Ruth Leyh

August 8, 2015 at 12:56 am

I only recently caught Departures on NetFlix, and have finished about 80% of it by skipping around between Seasons 1 and 2 (when I went with my family up the Alaskan Highway at age 13, it was still ALL gravel road, but I certainly do remember the larger-than-life mosquitoes!).

Having been to about 25 countries on ocean cruises, a Nile River cruise and a bus tour across Western Europe while on summer break from college, I increasingly found myself chafing at the restrictions on where, how and when I could explore. The one side trip which stood out was when I hitchhiked alone across Ireland when I was 20.

So this next time I’m doing it differently: for 92 glorious days (or what I hope will be glorious) in early 2016, I will be traveling by myself to live in Buenos Aires, Argentina and taking about 10 side trips around the country as well as to Chile, Uruguay and Brazil.

I want to know what daily life is like in these places: what do people do for work, where do they live, what do they eat, what are their plans for the future? I also hope to meet travelers (not tourists) from other countries who also ditched the traditional paths in their own countries to explore the world.

So thank you to Scott, Justin and ‘Dre for helping to bolster my confidence that my trip will probably be amazing and that I’ll come home with a few new adventurous friends — or even more. I recently read about one expat from the U.S. who flew by himself and his dog to Argentina in 2008, and today is married to an Argentine woman and has two kids (no word on the dog, but I’m sure he’s fine).

October 10, 2015 at 1:29 pm

how do you just get up and go and travel the world? We all want to do that but with what money? With bills, rent, and the cost of living, how do you put that much money aside? Or do the guys get sponsored? Who are their parents and how did they do it?

October 10, 2015 at 7:32 pm

I’m not sure how the Departures gang does it, but likely some of it was paid for by the TV station and by tourism boards. They found a way to make a job of out of travel.

If you really want to travel, there are ways to do it without quitting your job or going broke. You could save up and do one big trip or a series of smaller ones. Some people choose to save 25% of their salaries, and then take a planned unpaid leave of absence from their jobs in order to travel.

Few people can just “get up and go” travel. It usually involves planning.

November 22, 2015 at 4:54 am

Justin and Scott have given in these continuously three series of departures a deep panoramic view of the world that we never had come across with. I love this travel show because like an idiot abroad, they make everything authentic with culture of the people around the world. we get to know that our culture is one of the most important ways to connect and reconnect us and make a bond of friendship. traveling is not only about the famous monuments and preserved places, but it is also about engaging with people and to know about their mundane activities. As William Morris says, ” The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life”. you absorb everything that comes in your way. and from my side, “Life is what you make it”.

May 9, 2016 at 7:50 pm

Kudos to Lisa for the great interview. I’m watching Departures series at the moment on Netflix – awesome program! I stumbled upon the show and was hooked! I have traveled on my own to Japan, Greece and Italy so far – returned to Japan 3-4 times and 2-3 times to Italy because I feel in love with those places. I’ve learned the world isn’t as big as we think it is and the people aren’t any different from us. My trusty phrase book was put to good use and was able to communicate with people despite language barriers. I also wondered off the beaten path and meant some wonderful people in doing so. Moments of emotion too for the opportunity to experience God’s handiwork in the world. I am constantly impressed by and agree with Scott’s comments on the series. Awesome series and would like to see more from a very talented guy!

June 19, 2016 at 3:38 am

I have watched all episodes of Departures and I can still remember every bits of it. It is such an inspirational series on life and travel. I appreciate the fact that Departures were never tainted by commercial interests like all other mainstream travel documentaries. They invite us to have a sneak peak into their nomadic lifestyle and the producer had been very careful to show it that way. Kudos to Scott, Justin & Andrea for inspiring the inner vagabond among its fans.

August 6, 2016 at 11:28 am

Greetings from The beautiful city of Isfahan in Iran.I try to follow your awesome program on GemST channel.I think we can discover the whole world by watching your nice and perfect program.I really love your adventures and discoveries.I wish to see you face to face in Iran someday.If you want to discover a new world ,please come to Iran and don’t miss visiting Iran.It is an interesting four-season country with an amazing nature and an ancient history.If you want to come to this beautiful country ,I can help you to have a nice trip in it. Looking forward to seeing you soon in Iran

August 6, 2016 at 11:42 am

I really like your program .It is fantastic.

April 6, 2017 at 10:44 am

I watched this program and truly enjoyed it. Wondering what Scott and Justin are doing now.

April 16, 2017 at 2:05 pm

I would really like to do the same but have the same question as others, how do you just get up and go? Or how much money was spent in order to do this? So many questions I have! I been wanting to travel like that too, maybe not as extravagant but experience the world first hand. I would love to have the opportunity to do the same, any advice on how to start?

January 28, 2018 at 6:33 pm

Hi Justin. Big fan! Also private pilot with couple of solo hours and still heading towards private licence. Did you film your flying lessons? Will that be in a show? (Please!)

May 17, 2018 at 12:00 am

I binge watch the show and really enjoyed it. I myself love to travel and watching the show gives me a different perspective of my next travel. I hope that they continue the series because i think it’s really amazing how they can just transport us to where they are. They have open my eyes and heart to some of these places and it’s incredible because of their genuine experience. Love love them.

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